SOC 35-2015 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Short Order — Louisville/Jefferson County
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN · 2 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cooks, Short Order in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY is $29,630 per year, 17.4% below the national median of $35,880.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Cooks, Short Order in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY is $29,630 per year, 17.4% below the national median of $35,880. Pay ranges from under $20,860 at the tenth percentile to more than $43,680 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $24,690 to $37,620.
The area has 260 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.4 of every thousand jobs. Lexington leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $39,040. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 549th of 560 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $20,860 | −41.9% |
| 25th | $24,690 | −31.2% |
| Median (50th) | $29,630 | −17.4% |
| 75th | $37,620 | +4.8% |
| 90th | $43,680 | +21.7% |
| Mean | $31,430 | −12.4% |
Other metro areas in Kentucky
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexington | $39,040 | 130 | |
| 2 | Bowling Green | $27,590 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Louisville/Jefferson County run 9.8% below the national average, so the median of $29,630 goes as far as $32,849 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 8.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$29,630as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$32,849US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $29,630 a year, 17.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $20,860 to $43,680 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 260 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Lexington, at $39,040.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Short Order in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY?
The median annual wage is $29,630, or $14.24 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $35,880, so pay in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY is 17.4% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY earns more than $43,680 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $20,860 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Lexington, at $39,040 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 260 jobs in this occupation in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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